Maya Institute seeks support
In 1980 the Maya Institute of Belize was organized to address a number of issues affecting the Mayas of Belize. But it was not until six years later, when the institute was registered in 1986, that the work really started. The group first focused on education and has successfully developed an alphabet for the Mayan language. Because not much is known about the institute, a one-day presentation outlining their achievements and future plans was held at the Belize Institute of Management. Angel Tzec, a councilor with Ukuxtal Masewal or the Maya Institute of Belize said the institute was specifically established to promote the overall development of his people.
Angel Tzec, Councilor, Maya Institute of Belize
“Especially to address the problems of underdevelopment
of the Mayas of Belize. We recruited membership because it is actually an organization to promote overall development: education, cultural revival, writing of history and the whole gamma of Mayan science and philosophy. So we have been working for thirteen years now as a registered non-government organization with representatives throughout the whole of Belize.
In the past thirteen years we have been able to design a brand new alphabet for the Mayan languages universally. Those forty, we call them glyphs, are actually genuinely representative of the forty different sounds in the Mayan languages. Because the A-B-C in English nor Spanish can actually write the Mayan language so it is absolutely necessary if Maya is going to be properly written, it has to be written with an alphabet that caters to the proper sounds.”
Also presented was a project proposal: A Learning Centre for the Lost Child. Tzec said in order for them to promote development for the Maya people, they need a school which teaches their language traditions, work ethic and how to become self sufficient in food production. A number of representatives from the diplomatic corps and donor agencies in Belize were invited to the presentation in the hope that they will assist.
